Hello everyone... I am Troy and I am Canadian.I am curious about Turkey and Turkish language/people.Can anyone give me some informations and suggestions? Thank you so much,I need your helps...

I´m beginning to think they are a bit extreme people.

For example, every single song from some singers are about problems.

Everything is "Çok". If you say you like pasta, they don´t care. You have to say you really (Çok) like pasta for it to mean anything.

In terms of the Language, you´ve come to a good site. This place is so helpful, man. Quizzes, translations, lessons, you name it.

Thanks for your reply my friend.I´m glad to find this website,I agree with you.This website will help me about learning Turkish.I am sorry but I couldn´t understand exactly.Why don´t they care about that and why do I have to say "Çok"? I guess "Çok" mean is too much,very.Am I right? Can you explain that? Are you Turkish then?  

I am kind of joking. That is what they told me at the döner.

That is correct Çok is like ´very´, prounounced like chalk.

haaa i know doner!  

Some time ago I learned similar thing about British culture, although I´m not sure if this is actually true. Maybe someone can confirm or bust this myth

What I heard was that if someone shows you result of some of his work (for example, a painting drawn by them) or something about their daily work, and you say "That´s interesting" or simply "interesting", then this sounds not like if you are "genuinely interested" and enthusiastic about what they do/did, but that you actually don´t care much about it or you don´t find anything special in it, but don´t want to say that directly. I´ve heard one "true story" about a painter who was quite sad when she heard that her works are "interesting". And the moral of the story was: "If you like something or are curious about something, then don´t say ´this is interesting´ - this would sound fine in Polish when translated directly, but not in English".

Perhaps this actually depends on a way how you express how you find something interesting (in enthusiastic or not-enthusiastic-at-all way) ?

(sorry for off-topic, but I couldn´t stop myself from asking about this )

I agree - I think that Troy might also find the following site... interesting

http://turkishlanguage.co.uk/ 

I guess so but it´s up to person,so we cannot compare generally

You´re right! That´s bit of "British" manners. I was once told by someone of British background that if you go to someone´s place for supper and you didn´t like the food and they asked you if you liked the food. You shouldn´t say you liked it, that would be untrue, you shouldn´t say you didn´t like it since that you be impolite or offensive. You should say the food was interesting.

But really it´s hard to say. You could say some thing is great and the other person may not believe you. Or if you say it´s interesting and then go on to explain why that could be a greater compliment.

The other day someone from Eastern Europe background brought cake to work and I said it was "pretty good". And she didn´t take that too well. Then I wondered which is stronger between good and pretty good. And I didn´t know the answer, I thought they were equal, which would suggest the "pretty" in pretty good is meaningless.

Denizli

"pretty good" or "fairly good" are a little bit less than just saying good on its own.

They are more than "a little bit good". I hesitate to put a number on it, but it´s like 80-90% good instead of 100% good.

e.g. He was pretty well behaved means the child was mostly well behaved but sometimes he was a little bit naughty.

It´s like "iyimsi" or "iye doğru"

Your friend should have realised English was not your native language.

I have been with my Turkish husband for many years now.  I gave up on Turkish language fluency a long time ago.  I know enough to get around on my own when we stay in Turkey and I know enough to have a polite basic conversation.  I can tell you more about Turkish people and culture than the language. 

The secret to Turkish people is that they are just people, not unlike anyone else you will meet in your own country.  They have families, work, love, laugh, cry, eat, sleep and live/die like all manner of people.  There are good Turks, bad Turks, in between Turks.  Some are helpful and kind to westerners.  Some are not.  I am sure where you are from, there are some people like foreigners while some do not. 

Generally speaking, people in Turkey are warm and love to show people the very best of their country and culture and will try to be helpful.  As an American woman married to a Turkish man, I can tell you that people either love me or they hate me - there is very little in between.  In my experience, it is not uncommon for Turkish people to tell you their opinion whether you want it or not and they will not attempt to save your feelings.  Turks are very honest in this way and I rather like it.  I love most of my Turkish family...not all.  The ones who love me back would do anything for me and I would do the same.  I have been the happy recipient of some of the most genuine and heartfelt hospitality, even in the beginning of my relationship with my husband.  I have also experienced some cruel and hostile comments from people who barely know me. 

So what can you study so that you will know and understand Turks and Turkish culture?  Well, everything...and nothing.  You can study your entire life and not truly understand until you experience it.  Being part of a Turkish family is very different from being a tourist.  I have never seen Turkey through the eyes of a tourist.  I see it through my husband and now my children.  I love being there but I also get very, very homesick when I am there for an extended period. 

thanks for your reply